Posts drawn for finals of Levy, Matchmaker Series
April 16, 2018,by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — Post positions have been drawn for North America’s two richest races of the season to date, Yonkers Raceway’s $532,000 final of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series and $373,000 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker.
The finales, set for Saturday night (April 21), wrap up their respective six-week sojourns and highlight a 12-race card worth just over $1.3 million. First post is the usual 6:50 p.m.
The events, for the sport’s leading older pacers of both gender, go ‘ladies first,’ with the Matchmaker as the ninth race and the Levy as race No. 10.
The field for the 10th Matchmaker is: 1-Shartin N (Tim Tetrick), 2-Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton), 3-Medusa (Yannick Gingras), 4-Lady Shadow (Jason Bartlett), 5-Motu Moonbeam N (Brent Holland), 6-Dude’salady (Scott Zeron), 7-Twinkle (Eric Goodell), 8-Lakeisha Hall (George Brennan).
The 31st Levy rolled off the auto-draw showroom as such: 1-Western Fame (Mark MacDonald), 2-Dr J Hanover (Brett Miller), 3-Keystone Velocity (defending series champ, Dan Dube), 4-Evenin Of Pleasure (Joe Bongiorno), 5-Somewhere In L A (Bartlett), 6-Mach It So (David Miller), 7-Bit Of A Legend N (2016 series champ, Stratton), 8-Rockin Ron (Gingras).
At first glance, the intriguing storyline for the Matchmaker is Shartin N. After easily winning her first three Matchmaker starts — and getting a subsequent week off — she returned as the 3-10 favorite last Friday night (April 13) unable to get out of her own way, breaking right before the start and again at the half. At least the bridge jumpers stayed dry, since the Raceway eliminated show wagering.
“We couldn’t find anything wrong with her,” trainer Jim King Jr. said this past weekend. “Regroup and try again.”
The final of the Levy is flush with inside speed, with the first half of the gate probably just as comfortable with someone on their backs as someone in back of them.
A pair of consolations, worth $100,000 (Levy) and $75,000 (Matchmaker), are also included in the Saturday card.
- Levy and Matchmaker finals in Grand Circuit spotlight (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)
The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features the $532,000 final and the $100,000 consolation of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers, as well as the $373,000 final and $75,000 consolation in the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares.
- It’s not easy bein’ Western Fame (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)
If Western Fame were human, Mark MacDonald could envision him fidgeting with his necktie while bemoaning a lack of respect. A multiple-stakes-winning pacer, Western Fame has not been the favorite in his most recent six victories (five at odds of 9-2 or higher) and has been the betting public’s top choice only five times in his past 39 races. When he was the favorite during that span, he produced three wins and missed a fourth by a nose. In his past three starts, all in preliminary rounds of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway, Western Fame won twice and finished second by a half-length. On Saturday, the 5-year-old stallion competes in the $532,000 Levy championship, leaving from post No. 1 with MacDonald driving for trainer Jimmy Takter.
- Pancleefandarpels, Stratton and the first Matchmaker (Wednesday, April 18, 2018)
With this Saturday night’s (April 21) $373,000 final going as the 10th Blue Chip Matchmaker, what better time — with apologies to Mr. Peabody and Sherman — to make use of the WABAC Machine? It was the first Saturday in May, 2009, merely hours after Mine That Bird pulled off a 50-1 stunner in the Kentucky Derby. The first Belle of the Ball turned out to be a 5-year-old daughter of Noble Ability named Pancleefandarpels. Mike Lizzi photo.
- Burke starters behind eight ball in Matchmaker and Levy finals (Friday, April 20, 2018)
Trainer Ron Burke will start one horse each in the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy Series finals Saturday night (April 21) at Yonkers Raceway and both will start from a disadvantageous post position. In a random draw, Lakeisha Hall and Rockin Ron were both burdened with post eight. Despite the bad luck, Burke is keeping a positive attitude and isn’t surrendering before races even begin.
- Shartin N looks to rebound in Matchmaker final (Saturday, April 21, 2018)
New Zealand-bred mare Shartin has proven to be aggressive by nature since arriving in the stable of Jim King late last fall. Described by her former trainer Dean Braun as a bit bossy, Shartin’s eagerness finally got the better of her in the last preliminary leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series April 13 at Yonkers Raceway. Shartin and regular driver Tim Tetrick will start from post one as the 8-5 favorite in tonight’s $373,000 Matchmaker Series final.
- Shartin N wins Blue Chip Matchmaker (Saturday, April 21, 2018)
An equipment change helped keep Shartin N going straight and propelled her straight to victory in Saturday’s (April 21) $373,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series championship for older female pacers at Yonkers Raceway. The mare, who won three preliminary divisions of the Matchmaker prior to going off stride last week, posted a 4-1/2 length victory over Sell A Bit N in 1:52.2. Motu Moonbeam N was third. Mike Lizzi photo.
- Keystone Velocity wins second straight Levy (Saturday, April 21, 2018)
Keystone Velocity won his second consecutive George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series championship, moving to the lead as the field reached the quarter-mile point and retaining the top spot every step of the way from there to defeat Bit Of A Legend N by one length in 1:52 at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday (April 21). Mike Lizzi photo.